Aero Commander 560-A accident near Ashland, Oregon, July 22, 1987
On July 22, 1987 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander 560-A, registered N2794B, was destroyed in an accident near Ashland, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1987 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ashland, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 560-A · all 560-As on the register
- Registration
- N2794B · no longer on the register · serial 294
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TOOK OFF IN OVERCAST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND FLEW TOWARD A MOUNTAIN PASS THAT WAS OBSCURED IN CLOUDS. WHEN THE FLIGHT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT THE DESTINATION, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED AND THE WRECKAGE LOCATED IN A BOX CANYON ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN RIDGELINE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD IMPACTED IN A VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 923 hours in all; 206 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 830 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,179 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1986; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR at 7:08 pm
- Destination: SDM San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from MFR, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.